Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa under the Immigration Rules in place before 6 April 2010 and you’re applying to change sponsor

Tier 4 visa, or you’re a on another kind of student visa - read ‘Switching from a Tier 4 visa’ below

Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting) for a job as a professional footballer

Highly Skilled Migrant Programme

Innovator Scheme

Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme

International Graduates Scheme (or its predecessor, the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme)

Business and Commercial work permit (except multiple entry work permits)

Sports and Entertainment work permit (except multiple entry work permits)

You can also switch to a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa if you meet the eligibility requirements and you’re:

a dependent partner of someone with a Tier 4 visa

a Jewish agency employee

operational ground staff of an overseas-owned airline

a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order

an overseas qualified nurse or midwife

writing up a thesis

a postgraduate doctor or dentist

a representative of an overseas business

a representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation

a student union sabbatical officer

You must leave the UK and make your Tier 2 (Sportsperson) application from abroad if you’re not in any of these categories.

Switch from a Tier 4 or other student visa

You must have received one of the following under your Tier 4 or other student visa if you want to switch from a Tier 4 to a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa:

a UK bachelors degree

a UK masters degree

a postgraduate certificate in education

a professional graduate diploma of education

You must have got your qualification at a UK recognised body or an institution that has a Tier 4 sponsor licence.

The other student visa categories are:

student

student nurse

student re-sitting an examination

overseas qualified nurse

person writing up a thesis

postgraduate doctor or dentist

student union sabbatical officer

PhD students

You must have completed at least 12 months’ study for your PhD during your most recent stay in the UK and had permission to take the qualification.

How long you can stay

You can apply to extend your stay in the UK with a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa for up to 3 years and 14 days.

You must leave the UK after this and can only apply for this visa again if either:

12 months have passed and your previous certificate of sponsorship was granted for less than 3 months

you can show you’ll be paid a gross annual salary of £155,300 or more

Fees

You’ll pay:

£651 to apply online

£1,051 to apply in person

7. Family members

Your family members (‘dependants’) must apply to join or remain with you in the UK if they’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

A ‘dependant’ is any of the following:

your husband, wife or partner

your child under 18

your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as a dependant

They’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of their application. Check how much they’ll have to pay before they apply.

They must complete their visa application by 5 July if they’ve already paid the immigration health surcharge or they might have to pay it twice. They’ll get a refund for their first payment.

Savings

You must show that your dependants can be supported while they’re in the UK.

Each dependant must have £630 available to them whether they apply with you or separately. This is in addition to the £945 you must have to support yourself.

You must have proof you have the money, and that it’s been in your bank account or your dependent’s bank account for at least 90 days before you or they apply.

8. Taking a second job

You’ll need to make a new Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa application if you want to do a second job that isn’t in the same sector as your main job or isn’t voluntary work.

You can do a second job (up to 20 hours a week) if it’s on the shortage list without making a new application.

You’ll need to be sponsored by your second employer and get a new certificate of sponsorship if you make a new application.

You can’t:

apply until you’ve started work with your first sponsor

start work with your second sponsor until your application has been approved

Documents you must provide

You must provide some documents with your application.

You must also include a letter with your application explaining that you want to change your current permission to stay.

Your letter must state:

your name

your date of birth

your current certificate of sponsorship reference number

the date when your current permission to stay runs out

UK Study Visa

Short-term study visa

The UK is a world leader in many areas of education including engineering, science, art and design, business and management, law and finance. The UK’s reputation and legacy as a world centre for scientific research makes it a magnet for some of the very best thinkers in the world.

you’ve been offered a job within a faith community (eg as a minister of religion, missionary, or member of a religious order) in the UK
you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland